Quaaludes

Methaqualone

Clinical data
Pronunciation	meth-ə-KWAY-lon
Pregnancy category	US: D (Evidence of risk)
ATC code	N05CM01 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S9 (Prohibited) CA: Schedule III DE: Anlage II (Prohibited) UK: Class B US: Schedule I
Pharmacokinetic data
Protein binding	70-80%
Biological half-life	Biphasic (10-40; 20-60 hours)
Identifiers
IUPAC name 2-Methyl-3-o-tolyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone; 3,4-Dihydro-2-methyl-4-oxo-3-o-tolylquinazoline; 2-Methyl-3-(2-methylphenyl)-4-(3H)-quinazolinone
CAS Number	72-44-6 Y
PubChem CID	6292
DrugBank	DB04833 Y
ChemSpider	6055 Y
UNII	7ZKH8MQW6T
KEGG	D00557 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL282052 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.710
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C16H14N2O
Molar mass	250.30 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
Melting point	113 °C (235 °F)
SMILES O=C1C2=C(C=CC=C2)N=C(C)N1C3=C(C)C=CC=C3
InChI InChI=1S/C16H14N2O/c1-11-7-3-6-10-15(11)18-12(2)17-14-9-5-4-8-13(14)16(18)19/h3-10H,1-2H3 Y Key:JEYCTXHKTXCGPB-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y

Methaqualone, sold under the brand name Quaalude (KWAY-lood, \ˈkwā-ˌlüd\) in the US and Mandrax in the UK and South Africa, is a sedative and hypnotic medication. It is a member of the quinazolinone class.

The sedative–hypnotic activity of methaqualone was first noted by researchers in the 1950s. In 1962, methaqualone was patented in the US by Wallace and Tiernan. Its use peaked in the early 1970s as a hypnotic, for the treatment of insomnia, and as a sedative and muscle relaxant.

Methaqualone became increasingly popular as a recreational drug and club drug in the late 1960s and 1970s, known variously as "ludes" or "sopers" (also "soaps") in the U.S. and "mandrakes" and "mandies" in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. The drug was often used by hippies and by people who went dancing at glam rock clubs in the 1970s and at discos. The drug was so popular in the disco scene of the 1970s that the drug, sold under the brand name Quaaludes, was nicknamed "disco biscuits".

Methaqualone is a depressant that increases the activity of the GABA receptors in the brain and nervous system. When GABA activity is increased, blood pressure drops and the breathing and pulse rates slow, leading to a state of deep relaxation. These properties explain why methaqualone was originally mainly prescribed for insomnia. Methaqualone peaks in the bloodstream within several hours, with a half-life of 20–60 hours. Regular users build up a physical tolerance, requiring larger doses for the same effect. Overdose can lead to nervous system shutdown, coma and death.

Methaqualone is not recommended for use while pregnant and is in pregnancy category D. In Canada, methaqualone is listed in Schedule III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and requires a prescription. Methaqualone is banned in India.